Bougainvillea plant named ‘IREBABS4’

ABSTRACT

A  Bougainvillea  plant particularly distinguished by a rounded, low growing, and spreading shrub and having prolific flowering and mauve bracts, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Bougainvillea×spectro-glabra.

Variety denomination: ‘IREBABS4’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Bougainvillea, botanically known as Bougainvillea×spectro-glabra, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘IREBABS4’. The new variety originated from an open-pollination between the female Bougainvillea parent ‘Nonya’ (unpatented) and an unknown male Bougainvillea in Brisbane, Australia. A single plant selection was subsequently chosen in October 1996 for further evaluation and asexual propagation.

The new plant was first asexually propagated October 1996 in Brisbane, Australia and has been asexually reproduced by cuttings for numerous generations in Brisbane, Australia. The present invention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations by cuttings.

‘IREBABS4’ has not been made publicly available or sold more than one year prior to the filing of this application.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of the new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Brisbane, Australia.

-   -   1. A rounded, low growing, and spreading shrub; and     -   2. Having prolific flowering and mauve-colored bracts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Bougainvillea plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which which show the foliage and colored bracts of the plant. The colors are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures of plants grown outdoors in Brisbane, Australia.

FIG. 1 shows a close-up of the foliage of a plant under one-year of age.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the foliage and bracts of a plant approximately six-years-old.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘IREBABS4’. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Brisbane, Australia. The plant history was taken in May 2013 on five-year-old plants grown outdoors in Brisbane, Australia. Color references were taken under natural light and are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S. 2005).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Nyctaginaceae.         -   Botanical name.—Bougainvillea×spectro-glabra.         -   Common name.—Bougainvillea.         -   Denomination.—‘IREBABS4’. -   Plant:     -   -   Type.—Shrub and perennial (in warmer climates).         -   Form.—Rounded.         -   Habit.—Low growing and spreading.         -   Appropriate containers.—Commercial pots of all sizes.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—12 weeks from a             cutting.         -   Pinching required.—Yes, at liner stage.         -   Propagation type.—Cuttings. -   Lateral branches:     -   -   Branching habit.—Horizontal.         -   Length.—60.0 cm to 70.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.15 cm to 0.2 cm.         -   Internode length.—0.4 cm to 0.7 cm.         -   Aspect.—Horizontal.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Color.—RHS 136C.         -   Thorns.—Size: 0.1 cm in length; 0.2 cm in width (at the base             where the thorns meet the branch). Quantity: 1 at each node             in some parts of the plant. Color: RHS 136C. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single.         -   Durability of foliage to stresses.—Strong.         -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—Over 100.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Length.—2.5 cm to 6.0 cm.         -   Width.—1.65 cm to 2.7 cm.         -   Color, immature.—Upper surface: RHS 136A. Lower surface: RHS             137A.         -   Color, mature.—Upper surface: RHS 139A. Lower surface: RHS             N138B.         -   Texture.—Both upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous; pubescence             is absent.         -   Venation type.—Pinnate.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS N138A. Lower surface: RHS             N138A.         -   Petiole.—Length: 0.2 cm to 0.5 cm. Diameter: 1.0 mm to             1.5 mm. Color: RHS N138A. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   General.—Flowers all along the branch — branchlets with             flowers at each node.         -   Height.—4.0 cm to 5.0 cm.         -   Bud.—Shape: Urn-shaped. Length: 0.9 cm to 1.2 cm. Diameter:             0.5 cm to 1.5 cm.         -   Flower.—Type and habit: Single flowers arranged in axillary             panicles; flowers are upright and self-cleaning. Fragrance:             Absent. Aspect: Upright. Flowering season: Profuse             flowering; flowers in autumn, the spring and regions with             mild winters. Quantity per lateral stem: Over 80. Quantity             of flowers and buds per plant: Over 100. Flower tube             (perianth): Width: 0.4 cm to 0.5 cm. Length: 2.5 cm. Color:             RHS 155B. Quantity per flower: 3; composed of 5 fused             petals. Bracts: Quantity per flower: 3. Length: 1.5 cm to             2.5 cm. Width: 1.5 cm to 2.0 cm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Apex:             Acute. Margin: Entire. Color, when opening: Upper surface:             RHS N81B. Lower surface: RHS N81C. Color, when open: Upper             surface: RHS N81C. Lower surface: RHS N81C. Peduncle:             Length: 0.5 cm to 0.8 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm. Angle: 30°.             Strength: Strong. Color: RHS 138A. Pedicel: Length: 0.2 cm             to 0.3 cm. Diameter: 0.1 mm. Angle: 25°. Strength: Moderate.             Color: RHS 138A. -   Fruit and seed set: None observed. -   Disease and insect resistance: Resistance to rust diseases. -   Reproductive organs: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETY

‘IREBABS4’ differs from the female Bougainvillea parent ‘Nonya’ (unpatented) in that ‘IREBABS4’ is smaller in size and has a lower growth habit than ‘Nonya’.

‘IREBABS4’ differs from the commercial comparison ‘Kasumi’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,113) in that ‘IREBABS4’ has mauve-colored bracts, while ‘Kasumi’ has salmon-pink bracts. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Bougainvillea plant as shown and described herein. 